Jerrold G. Neeff

Lecturer

Areas of Interest

Contact

Biography

Mr. Neeff currently works as a principal of the Bostonian Law Group, a boutique law firm located in the Back Bay of Boston. Prior to forming the Bostonian Law Group, Mr. Neeff practiced at Morrison, Mahoney & Miller, one of the largest litigation law firms in New England, where he worked on the prosecution and defense of many complex multi-million dollar matters. Before working in Boston, Mr. Neeff practiced as an Associate in a law firm based in Manhattan, Renzulli, Gainey & Rutherford, where he worked primarily on the defense of landmark class action suits against the handgun industry, the computer keyboard manufacturing industry, varied Church congregations of the United States, major Airlines, the tobacco industry and numerous underwriters in the financial industry.

Mr. Neeff is currently an Adjunct Professor of Law at the School of Law at Boston University. He teaches Entertainment Law at the Law School and currently focuses his practice primarily in the areas of Intellectual Property, Entertainment Law and Employment litigation and counseling.

Mr. Neeff has handled numerous confidential matters involving high profile issues including allegations as to the original creators of the television show The Apprentice, the television show Fear Factor, the television series Taken produced by Steven Spielberg, the number one animated childrens’ television series Dragon Tales, the film, The Chronicles of Riddick starring Vin Deisel, the film Konstantine, starring Keanu Reeves, the film Underworld, starring Kate Beckinsale, the film Down with Love, starring Ewan McGregor and Rene Zellwegger, the film White Chicks, starring the Wayans Brothers and music produced by the artists Eminem and Sean “P-Diddy” Combs.

He has appeared on the television programs Celebrity Justice and Extra TV, two syndicated shows featuring celebrity matters as well as CN8’s Nightbeat with Barry Nolan and WHDHtv, two programs involving Intellectual Property and Internet-related features. Other matters handled by Mr. Neeff have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNN, News of the World, the London Times, the London Daily Mirror, E! Entertainment, Court TV, Playboy Magazine, Star Magazine, People Magazine, the New York Daily News, Lawyers Weekly USA, the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Herald and many other national publications.

Mr. Neeff has served on numerous professional panels including as a Moderator on the Panel on Social Media, The Effects of Social Media on Sports and Entertainment Law, the 2014 HLS Symposium, Sports and Entertainment Law Society,at Harvard Law School, featuring, among others, Executives from the Dallas Cowboys, Sony and The Weinstein Company; Sports Agents and attorneys for various celebrities and athletes including Eric Hernandez, Alex Rodriguez and Amanda Bynes and various other Hollywood Entertainment and Industry Professionals.

He also served as a Moderator on the Panel on New Media and Entertainment’s Digital Future, the 2012 HLS Entertainment Law Symposium on the Globalization of the Entertainment Industry, Harvard Law School, featuring, to note, the General Counsel and EVP of Corporate Operations of Lionsgate Entertainment (Hunger Games and Twilight), the VP of Legal Affairs of the MPAA, and the Senior VP of Worldwide Operations, Marketing and Distribution of the motion picture division for Sony Pictures Entertainment and many others.

Mr. Neeff is also the author of numerous articles and other works including an analysis of Employment Law entitled the “Compendium on Significant Employment-Related Case Law and Statutes” American Law Firm Association, Third Ed., February 1999; “Product Warnings May No Longer Serve as a Liability Shield”, Legal Dimensions, January 22, 1999; “Drafting and Enforcing the Non-competition Agreement”, The Employment Alert, September 22, 1999 and various other articles published online concerning Entertainment-related New Economy companies.

Mr. Neeff is admitted and has argued before the United Stated Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the United States District Court of the State of New York in both the Southern and Eastern Districts, the United States District Court of Massachusetts in both the Eastern and Western Districts and the United States District Court for the State of Connecticut in both the Bridgeport and New Haven District Courts. He has also argued before the Court of Appeals in Massachusetts and has extensive experience on the Appellate level. Prior to private practice, Mr. Neeff served as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Courts of Rhode Island and as a Student Intern for the Honorable Suzanne Del Vechio, the former Chief Justice of the Superior Courts of Massachusetts. He is a graduate of the School of Law at Boston University and obtained his Undergraduate degrees in both International Business and Economics and Political Science while an Undergraduate at the University.

Courses

Entertainment Law (S): LAW JD 905

3 credits

This seminar will focus on the varied legal doctrines that influence both the business and practice of Entertainment Law. Some of the primary topics include issues involving publicity rights and the use and control of image, celebrity and promotion issues, defamation and free speech, invasion of privacy, copyright including infringement and dispute and other general contractual relations surrounding the entertainment field. The course will also explore the practical aspects of entertainment law such as complicated litigation issues involving jurisdictional and venue concerns, client counseling and negotiations and other ethical concerns raised in the course of representation of your client. This course will not focus on sports entertainment or any other specific labor-related organizations. There will be no final exam. Grades will be based upon papers and class participation. NOTES: This class does not satisfy the upper-class writing requirement. ENROLLMENT LIMIT: 18 students. GRADING NOTICE: This class does not offer the CR/NC/H option. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.

Legal Interviewing and Client Counseling for LLM Students (S): LAW JD 692

3 credits

This is a practical skills seminar designed to introduce LLM students to the theory and practice of legal interviewing and client counseling. Through a combination of classroom discussion, readings, reflective writing, simulations and role-plays, students will learn the skills and techniques lawyers use to help clients make sound decisions. These include: identifying and obtaining relevant facts; effectively formulating questions; actively listening; identifying legal problems; clarifying client needs and objectives; formulating potential strategies; assisting clients in evaluating options; and communicating difficult information to clients, in litigation and transactional contexts. This course will provide opportunities for experiential learning, allowing students to develop and practice interviewing and counseling in real- world contexts. Enrollment limited to 18. **A student who fails to attend the initial meeting of a seminar (designated by an (S) in the title), or to obtain permission to be absent from either the instructor or the Registrar, may be administratively dropped from the seminar. Students who are on a wait list for a seminar are required to attend the first seminar meeting to be considered for enrollment.